Check, Please! Bay Area's ninth season episode 8 (#908) profiles and reviews these three Bay Area restaurants: 1) Capo's: | restaurant information + video | reviews 2) Bistro Liaison: | restaurant information + video | reviews 3) La Mar: | restaurant information + video | reviews [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bc3E_Mk-Wc] Other ways to watch the episode online (and on video iPod): Download episode (requires iTunes or QuickTime) Subscribe to Video Podcast My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I'm the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some wine (beer and spirits) tips with each episode. 2010 Brancaia “Tre” Toscana, Italy ($18) A triple meaning for a wine named three in Italian. Brancaia has three Tuscan estates, this is their third label, and the blend is a trio of varieties including Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Earthy aromas pair with a supple and grippy texture making it a red for the dinner table. 2012 Waters “Prelude” white blend, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Washington ($28) If you’re looking for a white with personality and class, this is it. A stunning Rhone-style blend from Washington crafted from grapes Roussanne and Viognier by rock star winemaker, Jamie Brown, this is a wine to seek out and savor. Made with half stainless steel tanks and half oak barrels, it’s rich and full-bodied yet the wine’s vibrancy and freshness still speaks. 2012 Light Horse Chardonnay, California ($14) This is the kind of Chardonnay you’ll want to sip from poolside to tableside. Expressing ripe fruit notes it also captures the brightness and lightness of Chardonnay. With just a kiss of oak to add complexity, this is a wine for enjoying alone or with a wide variety of dishes from salmon in a mustard sauce to soft cheese topped with spicy chutney. The brand belongs to Jamieson Ranch Vineyards, which has formed the Light Horse Foundation. A portion of all wine sales go to the foundation assisting high-risk individuals afflicted with autism. So, drink well and do good at the same time. I’ll toast to that. 2012 Reata “Three County” Pinot Noir, California ($35) Reata comes from the Spanish word for lariat and symbolizes the uniqueness of each handcrafted wine in their portfolio. This Pinot Noir is a powerful blend of grapes from three California counties, Sonoma, Monterey and San Benito. The aromas are reminiscent of dark berry fruit with a hint of vanilla and spice. Tannins are well balanced and smooth giving the wine an overall sleek texture. It’s class in a glass.